The Riverside Current

Council supports designing recreational trail in Riverside

Tim Beachy — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:29:11 +0000

by Ranee Fladung
It may take many years, and be a long drawn out process, but the Riverside council Monday night approved funds for the first step in developing a recreational trail to run from the west end of Riverside and join Vine Avenue.
Mary Jane Stumpf, Community Visioning committee member said she is supportive of the multi-use trail and hopes it will “further enhance the Veterans Park by having the trail go through it.” The council approved a contract with French Reneker Associates, Inc of Fairfield to design plans for the recreational trail. City Administrator Tina Thomas said the contract also includes writing up to four grant applications for the trail project. The Washington County Conservation Department has committed $10,000 toward the project if the plan is supported by the council.
The City of Riverside hired Clean Harbors Monday to help get rid of an eyesore on River Street. Thomas told the council it could cost $13,000, minus the estimate for salvage, to clean out the tar in the city tank on River Street and haul it away, but “don’t quote me on that.” Very few organizations do this kind of work. But they follow the EPA guidelines. The company needs at least two weeks notice as they are cleaning up the oil spill in the Gulf.”
During Citizen time, Jeanine Redlinger suggested the council take some of the money they plan to use for the new Riverside welcome signs and use it to fix the street signs in town, so “people can find their way around town once they get here.” She pointed out numerous signs that are difficult to read when one is driving by and that a sign for Boyse Street is spelled two different ways. She also addressed the problem with the house numbering system in town since she has the same address as one other home on her street. The administrator will check into what is involved in changing an address. City worker Brad Herig said the city plans to replace signs late this summer or early fall.
Chris Kirkwood gave an update about the Veterans Memorial Park. Lighting and concrete benches still need to be finished.
“Looks to be under budget but we still need a street lamp and electrical work to be done,” said Kirkwood. Approximately $920 in donations have come in from numerous residents in Riverside. “ It makes me feel very proud that other people want to take part in this project,” said Kirkwood. “More people are stopping and bringing their kids there and it’s something that the entire community can be proud of.”
In other business, the council:

approved purchasing a 4145 John Deere mower from Kalona Farmers Supply Sales at $18,754.81. Council member Ralph Schnoebelen questioned the purchase, noting the city already has four mowers.
discussed areas in town with steep ditches. Council member Rodney Waldschmidt suggested offering a $150 reimbursement to help residents purchase city approved ground cover to establish growth on steep ditches in town. Residents are asked to check with the city before making any purchases;
discussed how to handle reports of residents who are remodeling or adding on without building permits. Letters will be sent. Also, set a work session for June 21 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss options for utility rate increases;
approved a liquor permit for Riverside Casino & Golf Resort, cigarette permit for Kum & Go and a firework permit for Trek Fest;
approved donation of $4,000 for Stumptown Shooters for a fireworks show during Trek Fest;
approved Scandinavian Interiors site plan and building permit;
approved sending a bill to MMS for $75.72 for city administrator’s time and recording fees for legal description;
approved acceptance of $10,000 from Washington County Conservation for design of a trail in Riverside;
approved hiring French-Renecker Associates to design the recreational trail in the City of Riverside. Ken will help write up to four grants, 2 years and getting the city to the bid stage of the project;
approved property exchange and a parking easement agreement with Riverside Grain & Feed Company , so the city may move forward with the drainage project on Railroad Street; and
approved hiring Adam Montgomery as summer city employee at $10 per hour. Schnoebelen voted no.

Highland delays bus purchase; reviews construction

Tim Beachy — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 05:24:55 +0000

By Ranee Fladung
Despite assurances it would significantly lower transportation costs and be a “wise move” the Highland Board of Education Monday voted against buying an 84 capacity activity bus. Those opposed wanted more information about cost savings, indicating they would reconsider the issue.
Russell Fox, the district’s transportation/maintenance director,explained that the higher capacity bus would not only eliminate the need for a second bus, but also have storage space for equipment, noting it is just a highway bus.
Superintendent Chris Armstrong said it was a “wise move” to have a travel bus “so we don’t have to send out two (school) buses or an additional equipment van.” He added, “We should get a lot of life out of it.”
Board member Bruce Temple asked which account would pay for it, and was told SILO which for the last six months has averaged $400,000. Board Secretary Bev Colbert explained that event with the funds used to pay construction costs, it continued to maintain itself.
Board member Ed Ossman said that “the idea was to use that money for the building, not a bus.” He added the district needed to pay off debt, that “in tough times maybe we should not spend money on this (bus).”
However, Fox told the board that the one bus eliminates having two drivers which, at certain times of the year, is difficult to get, that it would save about 10,000 miles a year (with a second bus), that it is an easier handling and more comfortable vehicle that would be used for activities and field trips, not regular routes. He added no buses will be retired.It also would lower the chance of breakdowns and reduce the number of vehicles out at an event. Nor would there be a significant increase in insurance cost and no different license would be required of a driver. Just some additional training, said Fox.
Ossman said, “I’d like to think about it a while and see it tabled so we can digest it.” Board member Becky Hanson wanted “more concrete information on savings.”
When it comes to the major construction and the middle/high school, “We are getting to where we should have been six to seven months ago,” said construction manager Tim Ruth.
He said the library is getting done and that there was considerable savings for the district with local contractors doing some of the work. He added that it appears to be on track to be done by mid-July.
There was a request for $28,062 in payment. Change orders, totaling $15,433.87 were approved, but a change order about the cable was tabled, pending clarification about what is covered.
There also are problems with leaks in the new meeting room and other areas. Ruth indicated he thinks two are from condensation form ed around the duct work. Asked when the wrestling room will be ready, Ruth said there are life safety items, that the school will install such as mats, grab bars and partitions (mostly up). Once done, the state building inspector will come in and then the district should be ready to put in the wrestling mats.
There was a lengthy discussion about the exhaust hood installation for the kitchen and the board was told that it is not a matter of removing one and just putting in another. There are differences in size and the fact that there is no exhaust fan in there now. Todd Spacek, Henneman Engineering provided a cost estimate of about $46,000 for the project for which $70,000 had been approved. District will purchase materials for $16,000 and get quotes for installation.
In other business, the board:

approved the bid from Kay Chapman to do the school audit on a three year contract of $6,600 for fiscal year 2010, $6,800 (2011) and $7,000 (2012). Last fiscal year was $5,500. Changes in audit regulations account for the increase in fees. Colbert said Chapman “does a good job.” However, Temple was opposed, saying “I’d like to see it changed over. I know it’s not possible, but I am voting against it anyway.” and
approved changing the healthcare carrier from Wellmark to United Healthcare River Valley. The rate will be a one percent decrease from the current one, as opposed to Wellmark which is raising rates 15 percent.

Biologist “beams” into Riverside with starship

Tim Beachy — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 05:18:22 +0000

By Mary Zielinski
By day, he is a biologist with G.E Water Technology in Cedar Rapids, but at night Mike Aucutt builds ships for sea and stars. Friday, he “beamed” into Riverside with a scaled replica of the original USS Enterprise from the Star Trek television show as a gift to the Riverside History Center/Voyage Home Museum and the Riverside Area Community Club (RACC) who sponsors Trek Fest. RACC operates the museum.
“I was here last year for Trek Fest,” he said “had such a good time that I decided to build an Enterprise for their museum.” Aucutt, who has been building models from scratch (“with found materials”) for more than a decade, rounded up balsa wood, mailing tubes, green floral sponge and in six months transformed it all into two models of Captain Kirk’s famous ship.
“I did two so I would have one for my collection, but I made sure the museum got the best one,” he said. The ship has exterior LED lights, powered not by a lithium crystal but a nine volt battery.
“I wanted to have the interior lighted, too, showing through the windows, but it couldn’t be dome,” he said, referring to the fragility of the balsa wood.
In fact, when he brought the ship to the museum, he had it carefully tucked into the backseat of his car, “doing a lot less than warp speed.”
When he gave it to the museum, he stressed it has to be handled carefully and museum board member Scott Riggan chose a visible high spot for it above displays of Star Trek memorabilia.
Aucutt said he has now built a model of every Enterprise ship and quite a few others, including some three foot remote controlled aircraft carrier models.
“I also have done the two Battlestar Galactica ships,” he said, one of which was sold at last year’s Trek Fest.
What ship is next?
“None. I’m going to take some time to do some small figures from other shows.”
The Museum is on Highway 22 East across from Railroad Park and is open Wednesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but donations are welcomed.

“Beam Me Up, Scouty” scores a hit

Tim Beachy — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 05:17:03 +0000

For Travis Riggan, finding a way to celebrate the centennial of Boy Scouting in the United States simply meant looking to Riverside’s future, the one written in the stars. The Star Trek ones, that is.
The 16-year-old high school student, working his way to being an Eagle Scout, was asked to be the Junior Assistant Troop Leader for Riverside Troop 235 at the BSA National Jamboree this year. The event was delayed a year to have the multi-year event coincide with the 2010 Centennial.
One of the traditions for the Scouts is trading patches, especially unique ones, and boy did Riggan devise some.
Inspired by his hometown’s claim to be the future birthplace of the fictional Captain James T. Kirk (of Star Trek), Riggan sketched out a number of Star Trek themed designs, enlisting the help of craft artist Loree Sayre to make them real.
When the Hawkeye Area Council’s Jamboree committee (including 2010 Jamboree Scout Master Gene Fields) saw the eight designs at the meeting in Cedar Rapids, the combination of Star Trek and Scouts was too good to resist. All eight were accepted. One Scoutmaster, a patch collector as well, said, “These patches will be a top trading item” at the National Jamboree.
Right now, Troop 235 is raising funds to help defray costs of going to the National Jamboree by offering a limited number of the Riverside/Star Trek patches. Riggan said the patches vary in design and availability with prices ranging from $3.50 to $6.50. There is also a special limited edition fund raiser patch for $5.
Featured designs are the USS Riverside NCC-1818, the symbol for Kirk’s hometown, space scenes and one with the whimsically winning “Beam Me Up, Scouty.”
Riggan is the son of Scott and Carol Riggan of Riverside and has been “surrounded” by Star Trek all his life. His mother is the current president of the Riverside Area Community Club (RACC) that has sponsored Trek Fest for 26 years.
The patches are available at the Riverside History Center/Voyage Home museum on Highway 22 in downtown Riverside. For more information, call the Center at 319-648-2226.

Amy Pearl Westlake Brenneman

Tim Beachy — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 05:20:24 +0000

Amy Pearl Westlake Brenneman, 102, of Lone Tree, Iowa, died Sunday, June 13, 2010, at the Mercy Hospital Hospice Unit in Iowa City, Iowa. Funeral services were Wednesday, June 16, in the Lone Tree Presbyterian Church. Burial was in the Lone Tree Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Mercy Hospice of Iowa City. Arrangements were by Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree. Online condolences may be sent to the Brenneman family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.
Amy Pearl Westlake was born June 20, 1907, in Cotter, Iowa, the daughter of James and Fannie (Stone) Westlake. January 4, 1928, she was united in marriage to Harry C. Brenneman in Muscatine, Iowa. Mrs. Brenneman was a homemaker and farm wife. She enjoyed cooking, crocheting, raising her six children and especially spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She will be deeply missed by her children, Audrey Dodson and her husband Kenneth, Kenneth Brenneman and his wife Eunice, Vernon Brenneman and his wife Deborah, Raymond Brenneman and his wife Andrea, Ronald Brenneman and his wife Jane, Debbie Magruder and her husband Doug, all of Lone Tree; 13 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; and 28 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harry (February 7, 1987); one great grandchild, Sandy Sue Brenneman; five brothers, Charlie, Frank, Earl, Merle and Roy; and three sisters, Elsie, Fern and Cora Mae.

Robert C. Ramer

Tim Beachy — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 05:23:51 +0000

Robert “Bob” C. Ramer, 93, of Iowa City, Iowa, died Tuesday, May 25, 2010, at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City. A time of remembrance was held Friday, May 28, at the Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services in Lone Tree, Iowa. Burial was in the Lone Tree Cemetery with full military rites provided by the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457. Online condolences may be sent to www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.
Robert C. Ramer was born February 21, 1917, in Conesville, Iowa, the son of Chester and Ruth (DeLap) Ramer. He was a graduate of Conesville High School. Mr. Ramer enlisted in the U.S. Army in February of 1941, serving with the 887th Military Police, two years and nine months in the European Theatre, being discharged in the fall of 1945. Before being sent overseas, he met and married Helen Novstrup, of Sisseton, Minnesota, March 25, 1942, in St. Paul, Minnesota. After the war, the couple truck farmed in Conesville and later grain farmed and raised livestock in Nichols and Lone Tree. Mr. Ramer also worked for G.P.C. in Muscatine and for the University of Iowa Physical Plant. Retiring to Heber Springs, Arkansas, for 20 years and then came back to Iowa City for the past 15 years. Mr. Ramer was a member of the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457 and served on the Nichols School Board. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, farming, dances, playing cards, reading Western books, and building things in his shop such as bikes, wind chimes, board games, bird houses and anything else he could think of.
Mr. Ramer will be deeply missed by his wife of 67 years, Helen Ramer, Iowa City; two sons, Ralph Ramer, Iowa City; Larry Ramer, Iowa City; four granddaughters, Elizabeth Willham and her husband Brian, Des Moines, Iowa; Stephanie Ramer and her fiancé Dr. Nathan Heubner, Burlington, Iowa; Kathrine Lapp and her husband Mike, Green Bay, Wisconsin; a special friend, Natalie Ramer, Iowa City, who lived with and helped care for Mr. Ramer; two great grandchildren, Callie and Grace Willham; two brothers, Chester “Jack” Ramer, Cedar Falls, Iowa; Max Ramer and his wife Margaret, Conesville; and two sisters, Jean Yedlik, Muscatine, Iowa; and Alice Hazen and her husband Bob, Muscatine.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Don Ramer and his wife Hazel; Pete Ramer and his wife Fonda; one sister, Frances Bennett and her husband Harrison; daughters-in-law, Christine Ramer and Molly Ramer-Houlihan; brother-in-law, Ernie Yedlik; and a sister-in-law, Elaine Ramer.

Kenneth Lloyd Harrison

Tim Beachy — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 05:21:37 +0000

Kenneth Lloyd Harrison, 76, of Columbus Junction, Iowa, died Saturday, May 29, 2010, at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City, Iowa. Funeral services were Wednesday, June 2, 2010, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside, Iowa with Rev. Rich Adam officiating. Burial was in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Iowa City Hospice or St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Online condolences for the Harrison family may be sent to www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.
Kenneth Lloyd Harrison was born April 16, 1934, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Pearl and Opal (Jones) Harrison. June 26, 1954, Mr. Harrison was united in marriage to Patricia Louise Cory in Elkhart, Iowa. He was a foreman for L.L. Pelling for 45 years and was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside. He enjoyed fishing and spending time with his family and friends.
Mr. Harrison will be deeply missed by his wife, Patricia Harrison, Columbus Junction; his children, Mike Harrison, Columbus Junction, Mark Harrison and his wife Rene, Riverside; Kent Harrison, Columbus Junction; Robin Harrison, Iowa City; Kevin Harrison, Ainsworth, Iowa; Russell Harrison, Columbus Junction; eight grandchildren, Josh, Nicole, Amy, Jessica, Cody, Billy, Katie, and Kendell; five step-grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one sister, Sharon Garcia and her husband Eddie, Cambridge, Iowa.
Mr. Harrison was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Mae Fry; a half-brother, P.C. Harrison; and a half-sister, Nellie Hills.

Gerald T. Prybil

Tim Beachy — Thu, 27 May 2010 05:23:06 +0000

Gerald T. Prybil, 70, of Iowa City, Iowa, died Sunday, May 16, 2010, at his home from an apparent heart attack. Funeral services were held Saturday, May 22, 2010, in Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City, Iowa, with the Rev. Rich Adam officiating. Burial was in the Oakland Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association, Alzheimer’s Research or Parkinson’s Research.
Gerald Prybil was born April 18, 1940, in Iowa City the son of Carl E. and Patricia (Erusha) Prybil. He grew up in the Oxford area, was a graduate of Oxford High School and served in the Army National Guard from 1959-1965. He married his high school sweetheart Jean Patterson September 2, 1961, at St. Wenceslaus Catholic Church in Iowa City.
Mr. Prybil was a journeyman/pressman at Moore Business Forms in Iowa City for more than 14 years. In 1969, he started Prybil Heating and Air in North Liberty, a business which his son presently owns and operates. Mr. Prybil was a member of the Iowa City Moose Lodge #1096, North Liberty Optimist Club, RSES and the Iowa City Area Chamber of Commerce. He loved to travel, spending winters in Florida in the motor home, trout fishing and cooking for family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Jean Prybil, Iowa City; a daughter, Cathy Figueroa (Al), Iowa City; a son, Jeff Prybil (Linda), Iowa City; his mother, Patricia Prybil, Riverside, Iowa; five brothers, Carl Prybil Jr. (Loretta), Riverside; Jim Prybil, North Liberty, Iowa; Don Prybil, Riverside; Tom Prybil (Pat), Riverside; Steve Prybil (Kerry), Riverside; four grandchildren, Molly and Adam Prybil; Kristen and Nick Figueroa; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Carl.

Westfall Letter Winner

Tim Beachy — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 17:00:51 +0000

Jordan Westfall of Riverside earned an athletic letter for participation on the Coe Wrestling team. Westfall, a 2008 graduate of Highland High School, is the son of Brad and Kris Westfall. He is a 1-year letterwinner in wrestling with the Kohawks.
The wrestling team is under the direction of ninth-year Head Coach John Oostendorp. For the 2010 season, five Kohawks earned All-American status and four Kohawks earned NWCA Scholar All-American status.

Highland Soccer

Tim Beachy — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 16:51:57 +0000

The Highland Huskies lost two seniors to graduation and hope to see some improvements in their third season as a co-ed soccer program. A strong defense will be led by all-district honorable mention goalie Zack Miller.
Returning lettermen include seniors Leo Chavez, Alex Chabel and Zack Miller; juniors Austin Arnold, Dan LaRoche, Molly Metz and Brad Hahn; and sophomores Cody Mace, Logan Michel and Mitchell Kasdorf.
Other top newcomers include senior foreign exchange student forward Arbri Cungu, sophomore forward Emily Weber, freshman midfielder/defender Cameron Vinsant and freshman forward Jake Tate.
Head Coach Lynn Liedle is in his second season as the head coach and is assisted by Nate Kasdorf. The Huskies finished the season last year 1-11.